Ankle & Foot
Neurological & Vascular
Evidence: suggestive
Dorsiflexion Maneuver Special Test
Orthopedic Physical Examination & Clinical Assessment Guide
What is it used for?
- Testing for Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome.
How to Perform
- Position: Patient sits or lies supine.
- Action: The examiner passively moves the ankle into maximal dorsiflexion and eversion.
- Duration: Hold this position for 5 to 10 seconds.
Interpretation of Results
- Positive Test: Patient reports numbness, tingling, or pain radiating into the foot (toes or sole).
Clinical Context & Limitations
The Dorsiflexion Maneuver should be considered as one component of a comprehensive musculoskeletal assessment. No single special test has perfect diagnostic accuracy; thus, clinical decision-making should integrate test results with patient-reported symptoms, mechanism of injury, functional impairment, and relevant imaging.
Clinicians should be aware of potential false-positive results in patients with pain sensitisation, muscle guarding, or poor relaxation. For the Ankle & Foot region, combining the Dorsiflexion Maneuver with complementary examination tests significantly improves overall diagnostic confidence.
References
- Magee, D. J. (2021). Orthopedic Physical Assessment (7th ed.). Elsevier.
